It's late on a Friday, but this just popped up and couldn't wait. According the Greg Lalas, Jozy Altidore will go on loan to Greek side Olympiakos. According to Goal.com's Greek edition, the Super League champions have signed a deal with Villareal to bring on the young American striker.

Olympiakos was one of many rumored desintinations for Altidore, though wasn't clear was whether the Greek club was looking to buy or to bring him in on loan. We know now that it's a temporary arrangement, and one that will prevent him from sitting behind Villareal's more experienced strikers, stagnating in his growth.

Jozy's playing time is a hot-button issue for USMNT fans, and if this move gets him more, and therefore speeds up his development, than we can only view it as a good thing. Altidore needs seasoning, as they say, and while Greece is not on of Europe's more glamorous leagues, it should provide him the opportunity to hone his skills against experienced players.

Let's hope that Villareal would not be making this deal (provided it's as complete as Lalas makes it out to be; the path it's taken to SI.com makes me just a little nervous) if it didn't mean that their investment would see the pitch; Jozy's nightmarish time at Xerez should be a lesson to the La Liga club.

What do you make of this move? Is Greece a good place for Jozy to grow ahead of next year's World Cup?